The Indian women’s compound archery team beat Turkey in the final to win gold at the Archery World Cup Stage II in Yecheon, South Korea on Saturday. The mixed compound team clinched silver after losing to the United States in the final.
Later in the day, Prathamesh Fuge missed out on a medal after losing the bronze-medal match to Dutch archer Mike Schloesser.
The team of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur and Aditi Swami – who had won the team gold at the World Championships last year – combined to score a 232-226 win over Turkey to add to the gold medal they won at the season’s first World Cup in Shanghai last month.
The Indians took a narrow lead of 57-56 in the first End but extended it for a total score of 116-112 (59-56) at the second End.
Both teams were tied in the third end, with each shooting 58 to keep the score at 174-170 in favour of the Indians.
In the last End, the Indians scored 58 to Turkey’s 56 to get to a final score of 232-226 and clinch the title.
Later, Vennam was back to compete in another final, pairing up with Priyansh to take on American pair of Olivia Dean and Sawyer Sullivan for the mixed compound gold. The Indians however lost out narrowly, losing 153-155.
The Indians started the competition well, shooting 39 to the USA’s 37 in the first End, only to falter in the second, as the US levelled the scores by scoring 39 while the Indians managed 37 to go 76-76.
The Americans then shot a perfect 40 in the third End as the Indians managed 39. Trailing by a point going into the final End, the Indians managed to score 38, but the Americans went one better with a score of 39 to eventually clinch the title.
Fuge misses out on medal
Fuge missed out on a bronze medal by losing to Netherlands’ Schloesser in the shootout.
Fuge had reached the semi-final, but lost 143-148 to James Lutz of the United States.
In the bronze medal match, the Indian made a strong comeback to finish the match with a score of 148-148. However, in the shootoff, Fuge scored a 9, which was pipped by Schloesser’s 10.
Fuge started the bronze medal match with a score of 29-30 in the first End. Both archers scored a perfect 30 in the second exchanges, but Schloesser extended the lead when Fuge scored a 29 in the third end while the Dutchman had another perfect round.
In the last two Ends though, Fuge came back with identical 30-29 scores to take the match into the shootoff.
There however, the Dutch archer showed his experience as he bagged the bronze medal.
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